The Sukhoi Su-35 (NATO reporting name: ‘Flanker-E’) is described by its designer as a 4++ generation fighter that can bridge the gap between legacy fighters and the upcoming fifth-generation fighter. It can trace its origin to the Su-27M fighter introduced in the late 1980s, and has since then been substantially upgraded and redesigned, incorporating a reinforced airframe, improved avionics and radar, thrust-vectoring engines, and a reduced frontal radar signature.

China signed a $2 billion contract with Russia in November 2015 for the acquisition of 24 examples of the Su-35, following more than five years of negotiations. The delivery of these fighters commenced in December 2016 and is expected to complete by early 2018.

Design

The Su-35 resembles the previous Sukhoi Flanker series fighters in appearance, though its airframe structure underwent substantially redesign. The aircraft has mid-mounted and semi-delta wings with square tips. The leading-edge extension (LERX) extends downward and forward of the wing roots, with two rectangular air intakes underneath the fuselage and a large tail boom. The tail fins are swept-back, tapered with square tips, and mounted outboard of the engines. The horizontal stabilisers are mid-mounted, swept-back, and tapered. The nose is pointed with a bubble canopy.

Avionics

The aircraft’s fire-control radar is the Irbis-E (Snow Leopard) passive phased array, operating in the X-band. It can detect and track up to 30 airborne targets at a range of 350 to 400 km, and engage 8 of them simultaneously. In the air-to-surface mode, the radar can provide ground mapping allowing to attack four surface targets with precision-guided weapons while scanning the horizon searching for airborne threats that can be engaged using active radar homing missiles.

The model of the aircraft’s electro-optic system is OLS-35, consisting of an infrared search and track (IRST) sensor and laser rangefinder. The system can detect enemy targets passively without requiring to turn on the fire-control radar, thus reducing the chance of the aircraft being detected.

For sef-defence, the aircraft also carries the L265 Khibiny-M electronic warfare pods on its wingtips.

Armament

The Su-35 can carry a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapon, though it is unclear which of these have been purchased by the PLA as part of the package.

Fixed weapon includes a single-barrel 30 mm GSh-301 internal cannon with 150 rounds. Up to 8,000 kg weapon load can be carried on the aircraft’s 12 external stores hardpoints, including 2 tandem under the fuselage centreline, 2 under the air ducts, 6 under the wings, and 2 on the wingtips.